If you want to combine cultural history with hiking in Ban-De-Sapt, there are several ways to explore: Saint-Grégoire Church as an example of reconstruction after the First World War, memorial sites on Hill 627, trails of varying lengths and walking times, and the Jardins de Callunes. Options range from a short themed trail to a seven-hour hike. You can make architecture, war history or gardens the focus of your stay and choose a route to suit the time you have available.
Saint-Grégoire: Reconstruction and Furnishings
The former Saint-Grégoire Church was destroyed during the First World War. Its replacement was consecrated on 1 June 1930 and is considered a rare example of post-First World War reconstruction architecture. Its architecture and furnishings refer to Romanesque models. The building thus connects the history of reconstruction with a design inspired by older architectural forms.
The harmonium also has a history of its own: the parish of Ban-de-Sapt acquired it in December 1929; it was probably built by Cavaillé-Coll in Paris around 1855. The instrument has been listed as a protected object since 20 December 1989. Its construction date is probable, while the parish’s acquisition of it is dated to December 1929.
Fontenelle: Remembrance on Hill 627
The NĂ©cropole nationale de la Fontenelle was established in 1921 at the summit of Hill 627 to commemorate the soldiers who fell there. It contains the graves of 2,346 soldiers, including 1,382 in collective graves. The numbers and burial arrangements give the memorial site a tangible scale.
The hill was a strategic position in 1915 and the subject of fighting. French troops retook it on 8 and 9 July 1915. Three memorial trails begin at the necropolis and explore the difficult war years of the First World War. The Sentier des Lignes de Front presents French, American and German perspectives on the war.
Memorial Trails by Time and Difficulty
The marked, easy Sentier de la Cote 627 is 1.2 kilometres long, with a stated walking time of 30 minutes. There are 45 explanatory panels along the route. It offers a short, clearly defined way to explore the site’s history.
The Sentier des Hameaux morts pour la France is also marked and rated easy. It is 4.5 kilometres long and has ten explanatory panels. Along the way, you can see ruins, former shelters and areas associated with mine warfare. The historical traces in the landscape are part of the experience, while the panels provide additional explanations.
The Sentier des Lignes de Front takes more time: it is 22 kilometres long, with a stated walking time of seven hours, and is rated moderate. The Circuit pédestre - Ban de Sapt starts in the hamlet of Launois, is 17 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 250 metres. Different details can therefore help you choose: walking time and difficulty are given for two trails, while the circuit is described by its starting point, length and elevation gain.
The contrast between the 30-minute Sentier de la Cote 627 and the seven-hour Sentier des Lignes de Front is particularly clear. If you want to plan just a shorter themed trail, its length and time commitment are quite different from those of the longer route, which is rated moderate. Check the current condition of the trails before setting out.
Jardins de Callunes: A Garden in a Former Quarry
The Jardins de Callunes were created between 1994 and 1996 by transforming a former quarry, previously used as a landfill, into a botanical landscape garden. The four-hectare English landscape park includes heather plants and several different areas, including a pine forest, a waterfall and a flowering trench.
Visitors can choose from individual self-guided visits, educational visits and visits limited to the outdoor areas. As visitor options may change, check in advance which format is available for your visit. This lets you plan a garden visit to suit your interest in plants, landscape design or the different garden areas.
Discover more destinations: La Bresse, Bellefontaine, Girmont Val D’ajol, Les Rouges-Eaux, Gemmelaincourt, Uzemain, Travexin, Saint-Remy.
For the broader travel overview: Vosges.
